JP4204897B2 - Image forming apparatus provided with toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor using an electrophotographic recording method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like using a developer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, a developer (toner) is supplied to the surface of a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the basis of image data. A method is adopted in which the image is developed into a toner image, the toner image is transferred to a sheet (including a recording medium such as OHP), and then the toner image is fixed by applying heat, pressure, or the like.
[0003]
Examples of the developer include a one-component magnetic developer made of magnetic toner, a one-component non-magnetic developer made of non-magnetic toner, and a two-component developer made of non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier. Further, as a magnetic developer used in the known magnetic brush method, a two-component developer made of a mixture of a ferromagnetic carrier and toner particles is often used. This ferromagnetic carrier is iron powder, ferrite powder, nickel powder or the like or the surface thereof is coated with an organic polymer, and toner particles are those in which additives such as color pigments and dyes are dispersed in a resin. It is.
[0004]
Control of toner density in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier is executed by the control means and is based on the toner density result of the two-component developer detected by the magnetic permeability sensor. When it is determined that the toner is low, the toner is replenished so that an image can be formed while maintaining a constant toner density. In addition, when the toner density is controlled to be low for a predetermined time or longer, the above toner density control determines that there is no toner in the toner cartridge, determines the toner end, and prompts the user to replace the toner cartridge or replace the toner. Encourage refilling. The user has returned to a state in which image formation can be continued by replacing a used toner cartridge that has run out of toner from the apparatus main body with an unused one.
[0005]
In addition, the conventional toner cartridge as described above is provided with a recycled toner recovery port at the top of the toner cartridge so as to prevent the user from performing waste toner processing and to improve the toner yield, thereby performing toner recycling. There is also.
[0006]
In addition, the control means prohibits execution of the image forming process when all the toner in the toner cartridge is consumed. This is to prevent in advance the occurrence of misprints due to image quality degradation due to toner shortage. Therefore, in order to shorten the unprintable time as much as possible, there are many cases where the user side always has an unused toner cartridge for replacement.
[0007]
In order to prevent the developer (toner) housed inside from leaking outside, the unused toner cartridge is stuck so that a sheet-like film 70 as shown in FIG. Has been. When the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the image forming apparatus, the sheet-like film 70 is peeled off by pulling out the operation unit 71 provided at one end of the sheet-like film 70, and the supply port 56a is exposed. As a result, the developer stored in the toner cartridge 55 is supplied from the toner cartridge 55 to the developing device.
[0008]
Further, in recent image forming apparatuses, a developer cartridge that contains a developer and a developing means that develops using the developer are integrally configured, and a process cartridge that a user pulls out a toner seal and starts using it is applied. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-19841 A
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the present invention]
However, in the configuration of the image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. 14 described above, since the operation unit 71 is detached from the toner cartridge 55, before the user attaches an unused toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus. If the sheet-like film attached to the replenishing port of the toner cartridge is accidentally peeled off, the developer may leak out from the replenishing port and the table, floor, etc. may be soiled.
[0011]
Similarly, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the user may accidentally remove the toner seal before the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge capable of preventing a user from accidentally peeling off a sheet-like film before mounting the toner cartridge on the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus to which the toner cartridge is applied. Is to provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
[0014]
  (1)A mounting position in which a toner cartridge containing toner to be replenished to the developing device is attached / detached along a predetermined attaching / detaching direction, and a cylindrical shape whose end extends in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction toward the attaching position. Image forming apparatus comprising: a toner recycling unit of the first and a shutter that opens and closes the end portionIn
  SaidThe toner cartridge includes a casing for storing toner therein, a replenishment port exposed on the surface of the casing, the replenishment port connected to the developing device at the mounting position and replenishing toner, and the replenishment port sealed A recycled toner having a sheet-like film affixed to the surface of the casing and a recycled toner recovery port protruding from the surface of the casing and connected to an end of the toner recycling unit at the mounting position A recovery port, and an operation unit fixed to one end portion of the sheet-like film in the attaching / detaching direction, and an operation unit fixed to the upper surface of the recycled toner recovery port so as to close the opening,
  When the toner cartridge is attached to the attachment position, the shutter moves to a position where the end of the toner recycling unit is opened by contact with the recycled toner collection port, and the operation unit is an end of the toner recycling unit. Coming off the top surface of the recycled toner recovery portIt is characterized by that.
[0015]
In this configuration, a sheet-like film that seals the replenishment port is provided in a toner cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus, and the sheet-like film is peeled off in the attaching / detaching direction when the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus. It is. The operation unit is provided at one end of the sheet-like film in the attaching / detaching direction and attached to a part of the surface of the toner cartridge. When the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the operation unit becomes a part of the image forming apparatus. It comes into contact with the toner cartridge and comes off.
[0016]
Therefore, before the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the operation unit is attached to a part of the surface of the toner cartridge, and when the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the operation part is applied to a part of the image forming apparatus. Since the toner cartridge comes into contact with the image forming apparatus, it is prevented from being accidentally peeled off by the user before the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus with a simple structure. Is prevented.
[0017]
  (2)An urging member that urges the shutter to a position where the end of the toner recycling unit is closed is provided..
[0018]
In this configuration, a recycled toner collection port connected to the image forming apparatus is disposed at one end of the toner cartridge in the attaching / detaching direction, and the recycled toner collection port is sealed by the operation unit. Further, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the operation unit comes into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus connected to the recycled toner collecting port to be detached from the toner cartridge and the recycled toner collecting port is opened.
[0019]
Accordingly, when the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, a part of the image forming apparatus that comes into contact with the toner cartridge becomes a part to which the recycled toner recovery port is connected. Therefore, the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent the user from accidentally peeling off the sheet-like film before being carried out, and to prevent contamination due to leakage of the developer from the supply port.
[0020]
In addition, contamination due to developer leaking from the opened recycled toner collection port is prevented, and dust and the like from the recycled toner collection port enter the toner cartridge and are mixed with the developer to prevent image quality from deteriorating. Is done.
[0021]
  (3) an operation unit detection means for detecting whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body;
  Control means for determining whether or not to permit execution of the image forming process based on a result detected by the operation unit detection means;EstablishmentIt is characterized by that.
[0022]
In this configuration, the operation unit detection unit detects whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge after the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the control unit detects image formation based on the detection result. A determination is made as to whether or not to permit execution of the image forming process of the apparatus. Therefore, when it is detected that the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge after the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the sheet-like film is not peeled off and the supply port remains sealed. Therefore, the toner is not supplied to the image forming apparatus by the toner cartridge. Therefore, the execution of the image forming process is prohibited by the control unit, and the occurrence of misprint due to image deterioration due to the lack of toner is prevented.
[0023]
  (4) An outer wall door that opens and closes an attachment / detachment portion of the apparatus main body with the toner cartridge on the front surface of the apparatus main body,A door detection sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the outer wall door;,TheEstablishment,
  The operation unit detection means is a door detection sensor,
  The operation unit contacts a part of the apparatus main body and protrudes from the inside of the apparatus to the outside on the front side of the apparatus when the toner cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.
[0024]
In this configuration, a door detection sensor that detects the open / closed state of the outer wall door that opens and closes the attachment / detachment portion of the image forming apparatus with the toner cartridge provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus is used as the operation unit detecting means. Further, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the operation unit comes into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus to be detached from the toner cartridge and protrudes to the outside on the front side of the image forming apparatus.
[0025]
Accordingly, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the operation unit comes into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus and comes off the toner cartridge and protrudes to the outside on the front side of the image forming apparatus. When the door is closed, the outer wall door comes into contact with the operation portion, and the outer wall door cannot be fully closed. Accordingly, it is appropriately detected whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge according to the open / close state of the outer wall door. Therefore, the control unit appropriately determines whether or not to permit execution of the image forming process of the image forming apparatus based on the detection result, so that misprinting due to image deterioration due to toner shortage is prevented.
[0026]
Further, it is not necessary to newly provide an operation unit detection means, and the cost increase is suppressed.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 that is an apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a known electrophotographic method (OHP or the like) based on an image formation request and an image signal received from an external host computer or the like. Image recording medium). The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 1, an exposure scanning unit 2, an image forming unit 3, and the like.
[0028]
The control unit 1 receives an image request signal and an image signal transmitted from an external host computer or the like via a network or the like and generates necessary image data by generating necessary image data. The exposure scanning unit 2 is driven based on the above. The exposure scanning unit 2 irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 uniformly charged by the charging charger 34 with laser light based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure scanning unit 2 includes a laser diode 21, a collimating lens 22, a polygon motor 23, a polygon mirror 24, an fθ lens 25, a folding mirror 26, and the like.
[0029]
The laser diode 21 is driven by the control unit 1 and emits a laser beam based on the image data. The collimating lens 22 forms parallel light by passing the laser light emitted from the laser diode 21 and guides it to the polygon mirror 24. The polygon motor 23 drives the polygon mirror 14 to rotate at a constant speed. The polygon mirror 24 has a mirror surface, reflects the laser beam on the mirror surface, deflects it, and guides it to the fθ lens 25. The folding mirror 26 reflects the laser light that has passed through the fθ lens 25 and irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31.
[0030]
The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a cleaner 32, an eraser lamp 33, a charging charger 34, a developing device 35, a conveying belt 36, a transfer charger 37, a toner recycling unit 38, a fixing device 40, a discharge roller pair 41, and a paper discharge. It consists of a tray 42 and the like.
[0031]
The photosensitive drum 31 has a photosensitive layer having a photoconductive effect on the surface, and forms an electrostatic latent image or a toner image on the outer peripheral surface using the exposure scanning unit 2, the charging charger 34, the developing device 35, and the like. The cleaner 32 removes and collects residual toner on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 before exposure scanning of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The eraser lamp 33 irradiates the photosensitive drum 31 with light and neutralizes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The charging charger 34 uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31.
[0032]
The developing device 35 includes a developing device 50, a toner cartridge 55, and the like. The developing device 50 develops the electrostatic latent image by applying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The toner cartridge 55 stores toner therein and supplies the toner to the developing device 35a. Details will be described later.
[0033]
The conveyor belt 36 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The transfer charger 37 is disposed on the back surface side of the conveyance belt 36 and transfers a toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 by electric charge onto a sheet conveyed on the conveyance belt 36. The fixing device 40 pressurizes the sheet on which the toner image conveyed from the conveying belt 36 is transferred at a high temperature to fix the unfixed toner. The discharge roller pair 41 conveys the sheet on which the unfixed toner is fixed and discharges the sheet to the discharge tray 42. The paper discharge tray 42 mounts the paper on which image formation has been completed.
[0034]
The toner recycling unit 38 is connected to the cleaner 32 and the toner cartridge 55, and replenishes the toner cartridge 55 with residual toner collected on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 by the cleaner 32.
[0035]
The exposure scanning unit 2 has a structure that pivots upward with a hinge 80 as a fulcrum (clamshell structure), and can perform processing such as replacement of the toner cartridge 55 and paper jam occurring inside the apparatus main body. it can.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus including the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 35 includes a developing device 50, a toner cartridge 55, a toner concentration control system 60, a stirring device (not shown), and the like. The developing device 35 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 using a dry two-component magnetic brush developing method using a developer in which toner and a carrier are mixed.
[0037]
The developing device 50 includes a stirring roller 52 and a developing roller 53 inside a casing 51, and is filled with a developer composed of toner and a carrier.
[0038]
The stirring roller 52 mixes and stirs the developer (toner and carrier) inside the casing 51 to frictionally charge the developer. The developing roller 53 is composed of a non-magnetic hollow cylindrical developing sleeve (not shown) made of non-magnetic metal such as aluminum alloy, brass, SUS304 stainless steel, etc., and a magnet roller (not shown) to which a plurality of magnet bodies for generating a magnetic field are fixed. Is interpolated. Further, the developing roller 53 is disposed so that a part of the outer peripheral surface is exposed from the opening of the casing 51 and faces the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31. Further, the developing roller 53 magnetically attracts the developer mixed and stirred on the outer peripheral surface while rotating only the developing sleeve constituting the roller, and conveys and supplies the developer to the photosensitive drum 31.
[0039]
The stirring roller 52 and the developing roller 53 are rotationally driven by the control unit 1 via a driver and a driving device (not shown).
[0040]
The toner cartridge 55 is a toner container that stores toner, and is detachably disposed so that a supply port 56 a provided in the casing 56 and a supply port 51 a provided in the casing 51 of the developing device 50 face each other. Further, the toner cartridge 55 includes a stirring blade 57 and a toner supply roller 58 inside the casing 56, and rotates the stirring blade 57 and the toner supply roller 58 as necessary to develop the developer via the supply port 56a and the supply port 51a. 50 is replenished with toner.
[0041]
The toner concentration control system 60 includes a toner concentration sensor (magnetic permeability sensor) 61, a reference voltage generation unit 62, a comparator 63, a toner supply roller driving unit 64, a toner supply motor 65, a toner supply motor 65, the control unit 1, and the like. Then, the toner density inside the developing device 50 is controlled.
[0042]
The toner concentration sensor 61 is installed below the developing roller 53 inside the casing (mixing stirring chamber) 51, and the toner concentration of the developer inside the casing 51 on the detection surface 61a is referred to as a voltage (hereinafter referred to as a density detection voltage). ) To detect. The reference voltage generator 62 generates a reference voltage to be compared with the concentration detection voltage. The reference voltage represents a reference density of toner in the developing device 50. The comparator 63 compares the density detection voltage with the reference voltage, and when the density detection voltage is lower than the reference voltage, that is, when the toner density in the developing device 50 is low, the toner supply roller driving unit 64 is in contact with the toner supply roller. 58 drive signals are output.
[0043]
The toner replenishing roller driving unit 64 is configured by a driver or the like (not shown), and drives the toner replenishing motor 65 to rotate the toner replenishing roller 58 while receiving the drive signal.
[0044]
The control unit 1 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 13, and the like. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the apparatus main body based on information such as the RAM 12 and the ROM 13. The RAM 12 temporarily stores data such as a density detection voltage value detected by the toner density sensor 61. The ROM 13 stores programs such as toner density control.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an unused state of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet-like film 70 is attached to an unused toner cartridge 55 before being used after being mounted on the apparatus main body so as to seal the replenishing port 56a, and is attached to one end 55a in the longitudinal direction. A recycled toner collection port 59 is provided. The toner cartridge 55 is detachable from the apparatus main body, and is inserted into the apparatus main body from the other end 55b side in the longitudinal direction in the direction of arrow Y parallel to the longitudinal direction.
[0046]
The sheet-like film 70 is folded on the other end 55b side of the toner cartridge 55 and attached to the supply port 56a. In addition, the sheet-like film 70 includes an operation unit 71 that is a member that is gripped when the sheet-like film 70 is peeled off at one end. The operation unit 71 is integrally attached to the recycled toner collection port 59 so as to seal the recycled toner collection port 59 connected to the toner recycling unit 38.
[0047]
Note that the sheet-like film 70 preferably uses a polymer sheet. For example, there are a PET (thickness 0.05 mm) base material with a re-peeling double-sided tape and other ones of a laminate material having air permeability coated with a heat seal material. The structure of the sheet-like film 70 using the laminate material is air permeable so that the gas in the cartridge 55 expanded under reduced pressure and high temperature environment can be discharged, and the sheet-like film 70 is turned over in the unused toner cartridge 55. Can be prevented.
[0048]
Therefore, the unused toner cartridge 55 has the sheet-like film 70 attached to the casing 56a of the toner cartridge 55 with a heat-sealable or detachable double-sided tape, and the operation unit 71 is also attached to the recycled toner collection port 59 integrally. Has been. Therefore, the user cannot grip the operation unit 71 of the unused toner cartridge 55 that is not attached to the apparatus main body and peel off the sheet-like film 70.
[0049]
4 to 8 are explanatory views showing the state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the image forming apparatus. In order to mount an unused toner cartridge 55 in the apparatus main body, first, a front door (not shown) on the front surface of the apparatus main body is opened, and the toner cartridge 55 is moved in the arrow Y direction with the other end 55b as the head as shown in FIG. It is inserted into the apparatus main body from the front frame 101 side on the front surface of the apparatus main body. Here, the connection portion of the toner recycling unit 38 with the recycled toner collection port 59 before the toner cartridge 55 is mounted is sealed by a shutter 38a. Thereby, the toner conveyed by the toner recycling unit 38 is prevented from scattering inside the apparatus main body.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the toner cartridge 55 is inserted into the apparatus main body, the recycled toner collection port 59 contacts the shutter 38 a, and the operation unit 71 contacts a part of the toner recycling unit 38. Further, when the toner cartridge 55 is continuously inserted into the apparatus main body, as shown in FIG. 6, the shutter 38a is pushed out in the arrow Y direction, and the operation unit 71 that has sealed the recycled toner collection port 59 is replaced with the toner recycling unit. It is pushed out by a part of 38 and begins to be detached from the toner cartridge 55 in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction.
[0051]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the toner cartridge is completely installed inside the apparatus main body, the operation unit 71 is detached from the toner cartridge to the extent that it can be gripped. At the same time, the toner recycling unit 38 and the recycled toner collection port 59 are completely connected, and the toner inside the toner recycling unit 38 can be recirculated into the toner cartridge 55.
[0052]
The shutter 38a is urged by a spring or the like not shown in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction. As a result, when the toner cartridge 55 is not attached to the apparatus main body, the connection portion of the toner recycling unit 38 with the recycled toner collection port 59 is always sealed as shown in FIG.
[0053]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the user pulls out the operation unit 59 in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction and peels off the sheet-like film 70 to open the supply port 56 a. As a result, the toner cartridge 55 becomes usable, and toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 55 to the developing device 50.
[0054]
When removing the toner cartridge 55 from the apparatus main body, the toner cartridge 55 is pulled out from the front side of the apparatus main body in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction.
[0055]
As described above, the operation unit 71 is attached to a part of the surface of the toner cartridge 55 before the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the apparatus main body, and the operation unit 71 is attached to the apparatus main body when the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the apparatus main body. By contacting the part of the main body and removing it from the toner cartridge 55, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally peeling off the sheet-like film 70 before attaching the toner cartridge 55 to the apparatus main body. It is possible to prevent contamination due to leakage of the developer from 56a.
[0056]
Further, since the sheet-like film 70 is folded back on the other end 55b side of the toner cartridge 55 and attached to the replenishing port 56a, when the operation unit 71 detached from the toner cartridge 55 is pulled out in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction, the toner The sheet film 70 is peeled from the other end 55b of the cartridge 55 in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction. Thus, even after the toner cartridge 55 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the sheet-like film can be easily peeled in the direction from the inside of the apparatus opposite to the arrow Y direction to the outside.
[0057]
Further, the operation part 71 is used to seal the recycled toner collection port 59 provided at one end 55a in the arrow Y direction of the toner cartridge 55, and when the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the apparatus main body, the operation unit 71 is connected to the recycled toner collection port. The recycled toner collection port 59 is removed from the toner cartridge 55 by being brought into contact with a part of the device main body connected to 59 and the recycled toner collection port 59 is opened before the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the device body. It is possible to prevent contamination due to the developer leaking from the recycled toner collection port 59 after being opened. In addition, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the toner cartridge 55 from the opened recycled toner collection port 59 and mixing with the developer, thereby degrading the image quality.
[0058]
The operation unit 71 at one end of the toner cartridge 55 according to the embodiment of the present invention is affixed to the recycled toner collection port 59, but is not particularly limited thereto, and an unused toner cartridge 55 is installed in the apparatus. If the operation unit 71 is detached from the toner cartridge 55 when attached to the main body, the same effect as described above can be obtained.
[0059]
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, there is a toner cartridge 55 in which an operation unit 71 provided at one end of a sheet-like film 70 is affixed to the other end of the sheet-like film 70 and an image forming apparatus 100 provided with a protrusion 102 inside. is there. In the case of the above example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the toner cartridge 55 is inserted into the apparatus main body, the operation unit 71 is brought into contact with the projection 102 provided on the front frame 101 side inside the apparatus main body. As a result, the operation unit 71 is detached from the toner cartridge 55 and protrudes from the inside of the apparatus main body to the front surface of the apparatus main body. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11, the user holds the operation unit 71 and peels off the sheet-like film 70. On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 55 is removed from the apparatus main body, the toner cartridge 55 is pulled out from the front surface of the apparatus main body to the outside in the same manner as described above.
[0060]
In the above example, the door detection sensor 90 is provided on the front frame 101 of the apparatus main body, and the detection plate 91 is provided on the front door 103 which is the outer wall door of the present invention. The door detection sensor 90 detects the open / closed state of the front door 103 using the detection plate 91. That is, when the detection plate 91 is inserted into the concave portion of the door detection sensor 90, it is detected that the front door 103 is closed, and when the detection plate 91 is not inserted into the concave portion of the door detection sensor 90. Detecting that the front door is open. The door detection sensor 90 is connected to the control unit 1 and transmits the detected opening / closing state of the front door 103 to the control unit 1.
[0061]
Here, when the front door 103 is closed without pulling out the operation portion 71, the operation portion 71 protruding outside the front surface of the apparatus main body is in contact with the front door 103 as shown in FIG. Thus, the front door 103 cannot be completely closed. As a result, the control unit 1 determines that the operation unit 71 has not been pulled out from the information that the front door 103 detected by the door detection sensor 90 is open, and reports it to the user using a display device (not shown). The control unit 1 prohibits execution of the image forming process until the front door 103 is completely closed, that is, until the operation unit 71 is pulled out and the sheet-like film 70 is peeled off.
[0062]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, after the operation unit 71 is pulled out and the sheet-like film 70 is completely peeled off, the front door 103 can be closed, and the front door 103 is closed and the control unit 1 forms an image. Execution of the process is permitted.
[0063]
In the above-described example, the protrusion 102 is provided inside the apparatus main body. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and the operation unit is not provided when the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the apparatus main body without the protrusion 102 being provided. 71 may be removed from the toner cartridge 55 and protrude from the inside of the apparatus to the outside of the front surface of the apparatus. For example, the operation unit 71 is brought into contact with a part of the developing device 50 when the toner cartridge 55 is attached to the apparatus main body.
[0064]
Accordingly, when the operation unit 55 is not detached from the toner cartridge 55 after the toner cartridge 55 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the execution of the image forming process can be prohibited by using the control unit 1, and an image associated with the lack of toner. Misprinting due to deterioration can be prevented.
[0065]
Further, when the toner cartridge 55 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the operation unit 71 is brought into contact with a part of the apparatus main body to be removed from the toner cartridge 55 and protruded to the outside from the front surface of the apparatus main body. Since it is possible to appropriately detect whether or not the operation unit 71 is detached from the toner cartridge 55 using the sensor 90, it is not necessary to newly provide an operation unit detection unit, and an increase in cost can be suppressed.
[0066]
The image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to form an image using a two-component developer, but is not particularly limited thereto, and uses a one-component developer. It may be configured to perform image formation.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0068]
(1) Before attaching the toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus, the operation part is attached to a part of the surface of the toner cartridge, and when attaching the toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus, the operation part is brought into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus. By removing the toner cartridge from the toner cartridge, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally peeling off the sheet-like film before installing the toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus. Can be prevented.
[0069]
(2) When the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the operation unit is brought into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus connected to the recycled toner collecting port to be removed from the toner cartridge and the recycled toner collecting port is opened. Before the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the recycled toner collecting port is opened, and contamination due to leakage of the developer from the recycled toner collecting port can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the toner cartridge from the opened recycled toner collection port and mixing with the developer, thereby degrading the image quality.
[0070]
(3) The toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus by determining whether or not to permit execution of the image forming process of the image forming apparatus based on the detection result of whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge. Thereafter, when the operation unit is not detached from the toner cartridge, execution of the image forming process can be prohibited by using the control unit, and misprinting due to image deterioration due to toner shortage can be prevented.
[0071]
(4) When the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the operation unit is brought into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus, removed from the toner cartridge, and protruded to the outside from the front surface of the image forming apparatus. Since it is possible to appropriately detect whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge using the sensor, it is not necessary to newly provide an operation unit detection unit, and an increase in cost can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including the toner cartridge.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an unused state of the toner cartridge.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
14A and 14B are a bottom view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional toner cartridge.
[Explanation of symbols]
1-control unit
38-Toner Recycling Department
38a-Shutter
51-Developer
55-Toner cartridge
56-casing
56a-supply port
59-Recycled toner collection port
70-sheet film
71-Operation part
90-door detection sensor
91-detection plate
100-Image forming apparatus
101-front frame
102-protrusion
103-Front door

Claims (4)

A mounting position in which a toner cartridge containing toner to be replenished to the developing device is attached / detached along a predetermined attaching / detaching direction, and a cylindrical shape whose end extends in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction toward the attaching position. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner recycling unit; and a shutter that opens and closes the end .
The toner cartridge includes a casing for storing toner therein, a replenishing port exposed on the surface of the casing, connected to the developing device at the mounting position, and replenishing the toner, and sealing the replenishing port. Recycle having a sheet-like film affixed to the surface of the casing so as to stop, and a recycling toner recovery port protruding from the surface of the casing, the opening being connected to the end of the toner recycling unit at the mounting position A toner collection port, and an operation unit fixed to one end portion of the sheet-like film in the attachment / detachment direction and fixed to the upper surface of the recycled toner collection port so as to close the opening,
When the toner cartridge is attached to the attachment position, the shutter moves to a position where the end of the toner recycling unit is opened by contact with the recycled toner collection port, and the operation unit is an end of the toner recycling unit. An image forming apparatus provided with a toner cartridge , wherein the toner cartridge is removed from the upper surface of the recycled toner collection port by contact with the toner cartridge. 2. The image forming apparatus having a toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member that urges the shutter to a position where an end of the toner recycling unit is closed . Operation unit detecting means for detecting whether or not the operation unit is detached from the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body;
The toner cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a, and control means for judging whether to permit the execution of the image forming processing on the basis of the results detected by said operation portion detecting means An image forming apparatus. On the front surface of the apparatus body, an outer wall door for opening and closing the detachable portion of the toner cartridge of the apparatus main body, a door sensor for detecting the open or closed state of the outer Kabetobira, the provided,
The operation unit detection means is a door detection sensor,
4. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein when the toner cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, the operation unit contacts a part of the apparatus main body and protrudes from the inside of the apparatus to the outside on the front side of the apparatus . Image forming apparatus.

Images